For Immediate Release
May 18, 2021
The Haliburton-Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR DHU) is currently reporting a total of 119 confirmed COVID-19 cases for Haliburton County since the outset of the pandemic; at the time of this report, 7 of those cases are not yet resolved.
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Positivity Rate for COVID-19:
Apr 19 – Apr 30: 5.61%
Apr 5 – Apr 16: 2.06%
Mar 22 – Apr 2: 5.31%
Mar 8 – Mar 19: 4.06%
Average tests completed each week:
Apr 19 – Apr 30: 107
Apr 5 – Apr 16: 122
Mar 22 – Apr 2: 104
Mar 8 – Mar 19: 140
Positivity Rate for Variants of Concern:
Apr 19 – Apr 30: 1.9%
Apr 5 – Apr 16: 0.82%
Mar 22 – Apr 2: 0.005%
Mar 8 – Mar 19: Nil
Positivity rate for Variants of Concern, as a percentage of total positive tests:
Apr 19 – Apr 30: 33.33%
Apr 5 – Apr 16: 40%
Mar 22 – Apr 2: 9.09%
Mar 8 – Mar 19: Nil
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Variants of Concern
HKPR DHU is currently reporting 33 cases involving Variants of Concern for Haliburton County, up from 14 cases at the time of the last issuing of this report. These variants continue to be linked to community transmission, as they are more easily spread between people. The variants are also affecting a much higher proportion of younger people, present a greater risk for reinfection, have more severe symptoms with an increased risk of hospitalization, and increased likelihood of ICU admission.
Variants have been a significant factor in the escalation of the third wave of the pandemic in Ontario, leading to the highest rate of ICU admissions since the pandemic began, and a higher rate than any other province in Canada. The third wave has put significant strain on the healthcare system, and has resulted in patients been transferred in large numbers between hospitals to help manage capacity. Haliburton Highlands Health Services continues to be prepared for potential transfers of patients from other hospitals, and Eastern paramedic services including Haliburton County Paramedic Service have been up-staffing ambulances regularly to assist with the movement of these patients out of the GTA.
Get the COVID Vaccine – Protect Yourself and Help Bring an End to the Pandemic
• COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness and/or being hospitalized due to COVID-19.
• It is recommended that everyone get the COVID vaccine when it is offered to you. COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Possible side effects from the vaccine are far less compared to the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19.
• If you are not sure that you should receive the vaccine, please talk with your Doctor or Nurse Practitioner.
• Even if you have had COVID-19, it is still safe to receive the vaccine. Talk to your healthcare provider about when to get your vaccine after infection.
• Being vaccinated significantly reduces the risk of illness and transmission of the virus, however there is still a chance that fully vaccinated individuals could become ill and/or could carry and transmit the virus to others; because of this, you must continue to follow the usual precautions for now even after receiving the vaccine:
o Stay Home if you have symptoms and get tested.
o Continue Physical Distancing, Wearing a Mask, and Hand Washing.
Positivity Rates & Report Reminders
• The positivity rate represents the percentage of persons tested at the Haliburton County Community Assessment Centre who test positive for COVID-19, over the two-week period.
• HKPR DHU reports are based on geographical boundaries, which means the cases reported for the Haliburton region only include those among persons residing within the boundaries of Haliburton County, regardless of where the testing takes place.
• The positivity rate may not represent all positive COVID-19 cases in Haliburton County – only those who are identified through testing at our local Assessment Centre.
• Some persons in our community who reside outside of Haliburton County borders may be tested at other locations, and are not captured in this report.
• All cases reported through HKPR DHU for Haliburton County may not be included in the local positivity rate, as some tests may have been completed elsewhere.
May 18, 2021
The Haliburton-Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR DHU) is currently reporting a total of 119 confirmed COVID-19 cases for Haliburton County since the outset of the pandemic; at the time of this report, 7 of those cases are not yet resolved.
---
Positivity Rate for COVID-19:
Apr 19 – Apr 30: 5.61%
Apr 5 – Apr 16: 2.06%
Mar 22 – Apr 2: 5.31%
Mar 8 – Mar 19: 4.06%
Average tests completed each week:
Apr 19 – Apr 30: 107
Apr 5 – Apr 16: 122
Mar 22 – Apr 2: 104
Mar 8 – Mar 19: 140
Positivity Rate for Variants of Concern:
Apr 19 – Apr 30: 1.9%
Apr 5 – Apr 16: 0.82%
Mar 22 – Apr 2: 0.005%
Mar 8 – Mar 19: Nil
Positivity rate for Variants of Concern, as a percentage of total positive tests:
Apr 19 – Apr 30: 33.33%
Apr 5 – Apr 16: 40%
Mar 22 – Apr 2: 9.09%
Mar 8 – Mar 19: Nil
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Variants of Concern
HKPR DHU is currently reporting 33 cases involving Variants of Concern for Haliburton County, up from 14 cases at the time of the last issuing of this report. These variants continue to be linked to community transmission, as they are more easily spread between people. The variants are also affecting a much higher proportion of younger people, present a greater risk for reinfection, have more severe symptoms with an increased risk of hospitalization, and increased likelihood of ICU admission.
Variants have been a significant factor in the escalation of the third wave of the pandemic in Ontario, leading to the highest rate of ICU admissions since the pandemic began, and a higher rate than any other province in Canada. The third wave has put significant strain on the healthcare system, and has resulted in patients been transferred in large numbers between hospitals to help manage capacity. Haliburton Highlands Health Services continues to be prepared for potential transfers of patients from other hospitals, and Eastern paramedic services including Haliburton County Paramedic Service have been up-staffing ambulances regularly to assist with the movement of these patients out of the GTA.
Get the COVID Vaccine – Protect Yourself and Help Bring an End to the Pandemic
• COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness and/or being hospitalized due to COVID-19.
• It is recommended that everyone get the COVID vaccine when it is offered to you. COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Possible side effects from the vaccine are far less compared to the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19.
• If you are not sure that you should receive the vaccine, please talk with your Doctor or Nurse Practitioner.
• Even if you have had COVID-19, it is still safe to receive the vaccine. Talk to your healthcare provider about when to get your vaccine after infection.
• Being vaccinated significantly reduces the risk of illness and transmission of the virus, however there is still a chance that fully vaccinated individuals could become ill and/or could carry and transmit the virus to others; because of this, you must continue to follow the usual precautions for now even after receiving the vaccine:
o Stay Home if you have symptoms and get tested.
o Continue Physical Distancing, Wearing a Mask, and Hand Washing.
Positivity Rates & Report Reminders
• The positivity rate represents the percentage of persons tested at the Haliburton County Community Assessment Centre who test positive for COVID-19, over the two-week period.
• HKPR DHU reports are based on geographical boundaries, which means the cases reported for the Haliburton region only include those among persons residing within the boundaries of Haliburton County, regardless of where the testing takes place.
• The positivity rate may not represent all positive COVID-19 cases in Haliburton County – only those who are identified through testing at our local Assessment Centre.
• Some persons in our community who reside outside of Haliburton County borders may be tested at other locations, and are not captured in this report.
• All cases reported through HKPR DHU for Haliburton County may not be included in the local positivity rate, as some tests may have been completed elsewhere.